With four years of monthly gatherings under our belt, you might think we’d have run out of things to talk about by now. But therein lies the secret: the articles, in the end, are just a jumping-off point for the free-wheeling and wide-ranging conversation that always ensues. Challenging ideas, exchanging experiences, and laughing (sometimes hysterically) are de rigueur with this group, and I’m so grateful for it. If you’ve ever wanted to start something like this, do it. And if you just want to follow along at home, read on – I’m sharing a few of the articles we read together in the last year, plus our dinner themes just for fun! :) How Our Families Shape Us The Family Stories That Bind Us Happy Children Do Chores What Are Your Family Rules? Meal: mac and cheese bar and salads Being a Nuanced American: How Social Media Has Changed How We Consume News How Feeling Disillusioned Leads to Political Polarization 6 Orienting Questions for the Journey Towards Staying Informed Meal: A giant charcuterie board Blogging and Privacy: We Want Privacy, But Can’t Stop Sharing When Kids Realize Their Whole Life is Already Online 13, Right Now Don’t Post About Me on Social Media, Children Say Meal: Summer salads Books and Reading: Can Reading Make You Happier? How Banning Books Marginalizes Children Read a Novel: It’s Just What the Doctor Ordered Meal: Recipes from our favorite chefs and bloggers Free Inquiry, Education, and Raising Curious Kids The Coddling of the American Mind (many of us read the book this month, too!) Meal: Picnic food Technology and Social Media: Alexa, Should We Trust You? I Cut the Big Five Tech Giants From My Life. It Was Hell. Alexa is a Revelation for the Blind Meal: Mexican Women and Girls This is How

Well, when I made posting a priority in September, I knew my frequency might drop back down this month – but I didn’t expect to write only my second post of the month on the 16th! It’s been a busy two weeks, between traveling to New England for a wedding and to meet our newish nephew, me traveling to New York for work for five days, and starting a new family group at our church. I thought I’d get back in the swing of things by sharing our porch party! After 2012’s Julia & Julia dinner party and last year’s adventure dinner party, I knew I wanted to host another special event for some of our friends this year. We considered another adventurous location, but decided instead to celebrate our new home and its glorious porch. We used the same six-foot folding table that we bought for last year’s party, and splurged on two strings of lights from World Market. We moved our dining chairs outside for the evening. The simple white tablecloth was from Target, and I added some pale blue thin tapers at the last minute. Our menu was Mediterranean: bruschetta, chicken souvlaki, quinoa Greek salad, and chocolate raspberry pavlova – all things we had made many times before. Friends brought rosé and pitas and hummus. We started with a walk around our neighborhood, then came back to the house and finished prepping dinner. We completely lucked out with the weather – August in North Carolina can be HOT and muggy, but we got a mild, sunny day in the 70’s. Bliss! It made for a really relaxed evening, as we were able to stay outside in comfort, chatting and laughing. This year’s dinner party iteration wasn’t particularly elaborate, but it was lovely, and so good to get